Pail



Dec. 20, 1966 FlG l INVENTO F1 EUGENE SMITH and BY LAURANGE F. PLAS N OflmfihuflflflgiD QY ATTORNEYS United States Patent M AIL The present application is a continuation of US. application Ser. No. 319,322, filed Oct. 28, 1963, now abandoned and relates generally, as indicated, to pails, especially of the type such as are used in the application of paint by means of a brush as in painting buildings and other structures, However, as will be obvious from the description which follows, the features which distinguish such pail are not limited to any such particular field of use for the latter.

The ordinary simple cylindrical container with handle or bail attached, which painter ordinarily use, is not specifically designed for use on the job. Indeed, not infrequently, the container in which the paint is packaged is the one thus used in applying it to the wall or other structure that is being painted. Upon removing the cover of such container, the contents are stirred up to insure thorough intenmixture and the pail then carried or hung conveniently adjacent to the user. However, such container when suspended will often swing into an inconvenient position after dipping the brush therein and provides no adequate means for draining the brush or a rest therefor should the painter wish to lay it down. Furthermore, it is frequently desirable to add a modifying ingredient to the original contents of the can and the proportioning of the amount of such additive presents a problem.

One object of our present invention is to provide a pail which will be held against rotation when hung from a ladder or against a wall.

A further object is to provide a pail which will permit excess paint to be readily wiped from the brush, as well as provide a rest for such brush during intervals when not in use. Such pail also includes a provision for readily measuring different paint components prior to their final iutermixture in selected proportions.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of our improved pail showing associated therewith a brush in resting position, i.e., of incidental non-use;

FIG. 2 is a vertical median section of such pail showing the brush in a different position;

FIG. 3 illustrates the manner in which the pail may be suspended from a ladder or other support; and

FIG. 4 is a broken section similar to FIG. 2 but showing the brush in still another position in relation to the pail.

Referring now to the drawing, the body 1 of the pail is generally of conventional form, i.e., has a base that is circular except as hereinafter noted and side walls rising and flaring outwardly therefrom to an open top. However, as best shown in FIG. 1, one portion 2 of such wall, which may be designated the back wall of the pail, is flat instead of conforming to the generally cylindrical (ac- 3,292,815 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 tually frusto-conical) shape of the rest of the wall. Such back wall will desirably be formed with a series of vertically spaced transverse indentations 3 so as to provide corresponding inwardly directed ribs 4, or alternatively such ribs may be molded of the material whereof the pail is made. Desirably, although not necessarily, the spacing of certain selected, distinctly formed ribs 4, e.g., those to which the lead line from the numeral in question are directed, will be such that they will constitute measuring indicia, i.e., a means for measuring by equal increments, e.g., one quart, the contents of the pail.

The bottom wall 5, as shown in FIG. 2, is disposed at an angle to the lower circular base of body 1, including from the flat back wall 2 to the lower front corner of the paid. As a result, when the contents of the pail are substantially used up the remnant will tend to collect in such lower corner and may 'be more readily removed therefrom by dipping the brush B into such corner.

Directly opposite such back wall 2, the upper edge or rim of the pail is slightly depressed to form a pouring spout 6. Such edge or rim including such depressed portion as well as that which borders the flat back wall 2 of the pail, is provided with a flange 7 of varying crosssectional shape. At the pouring spout just referred to, the flange extends outwardly and then downwardly in the form of a lip 8, as illustrated in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 2 and 4. The portion 9 of the flange along the upper edge of the back wall 2 inclines upwardly, as likewise shown in the figures just referred to, so as to provide in conjunction with the bail presently to be described an inclined rest for brush B. Intermediately of such back wall and the spout 6, the flange projects generally outwardly and then downwardly, as best illustrated in FIG. 1.

Instead of the usual approximately semi-circular bail, the pail is equipped with a bail 10' of the special form shown in FIG. 1. While the respective side portions of the bail are in the form of opposed arcs, the midportion 10a is approximately straight and at the center point thereof is bent to form a sharp outwardly projecting loop 10b. Likewise the inner ends of the bail, by means of which it is pivotally attached to the corresponding downwardly directed portions of the flange 7, are bent out of the plane of the bail proper, so that when the latter is dropped downwardly, the side portions thereof will contact with and be supported on such flange and the straight portion 10a will project some distance beyond the inclined flange portion 9 on the back wall 2 of the pail. As a result the brush B may be conveniently rested on the pail with the body thereof on such flange and the handle on such bail portion 10a,

Our improved pail as thus described may be made of any suitable material, e.g., of sheet metal, as are conventional pails, buckets and cans. However, the construction is such that it may be most conveniently made from one of the currently available synthetic plastic materials by a molding operation. The hail, of course, will consist as usual of a round wire bent to the indicated shape.

From the description already given of the operative uses of the several component parts of our improved pail, it will be evident that it combines a number of novel and highly useful functions. By way of resume, the inclined flange or lip 9 at the upper edge of the flat portion of the pail body not only provides, in combination with the bail at its lower position, a convenient brush rest, but the inner edge of such flange at its line of juncture with such flat portion is available for removing excess paint from the brush. Such flange, furthermore, slopes inwardly and so provides a non-drip feature. Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 3, such fiat portion or side of the'pail body serves to prevent rotation of the pail when it is hung by means of the bail either against a rung of a ladded or against a vertical wall surface. The loop or offset b in the bail at the same time prevents the latter from slipping sidewise on the hook or other means by which it is hung up for use. The inwardly directed, vertically spaced ribs on such flat wall not only serve as graduations for measuring successive components of paint in the pail, but also may be used for roller traction where, instead of a brush, a roller type applicator is employed for the painting operation. In this connection, it should be noted that the pail will desirably be made of six quart capacity since so many formulations start with a one gallon base with up to a quart of additional component or components. Sufficient space will therefore be left over to permit intermixing without spilling or splashing. Finally, the sloping bottom of the pail not only provides, as previously indicated, for residual paint accumulation, but since the flat face of the body extends below the rear edge of such bottom, a convenient finger grip is provided when it is desired to pour from the pail.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

We, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A pail comprising a body having side walls and a bottom, a bail, and means for pivotally mounting the ends of said bail to said side walls of said pail, said bail comprising a pair of side portions and a midportion connecting said side portions together, said midportion having a substantially straight portion parallel to a plane through said bail ends, said side portions extending from said end portions in a direction substantially parallel to said side walls for a distance slightly greater than the distance between the ends of said ball and the upper edge of said side walls, said side portions beyond said parallel portions being bent in an inward direction overlying said upper edge of said pail and also slightly bent in one direction out of the plane of said parallel portions to permit said side portions to engage and rest upon said upper edge of said pail body when said bail is lowered in said one direction, said side portions being of such a length that said midportion of said bail is substantially horizontally outwardly spaced from the upper edge of said pail when said bail is lowered as aforesaid by a distance sufficient to provide a rest spaced from said upper edge for supporting a brush by said midportion and said upper edge.-

2. A pail comprising a body having side walls and a bottom, the upper edge of said side walls being formed on opposite sides with outwardly and downwardly extending flanges, and a portion of said upper edge between said flanges being formed with an upwardly and outwardly inclined portion of suflicient width to provide a first inclined rest for supporting a brush and the like, the downwardly extending portions of said flanges being provided with oppositely located apertures, and a bail having inwardly directed end portions which extend into said oppositely located apertures for pivotally mounting said bail to said flange portions, said bail comprising a pair of side portions and a midportion connecting said side portions together, said midportion having a substantially straight portion parallel to a plane through said oppositely located aptrtures, said side portions extending from said end portions in a direction substantially parallel to the downwardly extending flange portions for a distance slightly greater than the distance between said apertures in said flanges and the outer edge of said outwardly extending flange portions, said side portions beyond said parallel portions being bent in an inward direction overlying said upper edge of said pail and also slightly bent out of the plane of said parallel portions in the direction of said upwardly and outwardly inclined portion to permit said side portions to engage and rest upon said upper edge of said pail body when said bail is lowered in the direction of said upwardly and outwardly inclined portion, said side portions being of such a length that said midportion of said bail is substantially horizontally outwardly spaced from the upper edge of said upwardly and outwardly inclined portion when said bail is lowered as aforesaid by a distance suflicient to provide a second rest spaced from said first rest for supporting a brush on said pail by said rests.

3. The pail of claim 2 wherein a portion of said side walls is substantially flat, and there are a series of vertically spaced, inwardly directed transverse ribs formed on said flat wall, certain selected ones of said ribs constituting indicia for measuring the contents in said pail.

4. A pail comprising a body having side walls and a bottom, the upper edge of said side walls being formed on opposite sides with outwardly and downwardly extending flanges, the downwardly extending portions of said flanges being provided with oppositely located apertures, and a bail having inwardly directed end portions which extend,

into said oppositely located apertures for pivotally mounting said bail to said flange portions, said bail comprising i a pair of side portions and a midportion connecting said side portions together, said midportion having a substantially straight portion parallel to a plane through said oppositely located apertures, said side portions extending from said end portions in a direction substantially parallel to the downwardly extending flange portions for a distance slightly greater than the distance between said apertures in said flanges and the outer edge of said outwardly extend, ing flange portions, said side portions beyond said parallel. portions being bent in an inward direction overlying said upper edge of said pail and also slightly bent out of the plane of said parallel portions in one direction to permit said side portions to engage and rest upon said upper edge:

of said pail body when said bail is lowered in said one direction, said side portions being of such a length that said midportion of said bail is substantially horizontally outwardly spaced from the upper edge of said pail when said bail is lowered as aforesaid by a distance suflicient to provide a rest spaced from said upper edge for supporting a brush by said midportion and said upper edge.

References Cited by the Examiner THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Examiner. 

4. A PAIL COMPRISING A BODY HAVING SIDE WALLS AND A BOTTOM, THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID SIDE WALLS BEING FORMED ON OPPOSITE SIDES WITH OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGES, THE DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING PORTIONS OF SAID FLANGES BEING PROVIDED WITH OPPOSITELY LOCATED APERTURES, AND A BAIL HAVING INWARDLY DIRECTED END PORTIONS WHICH EXTEND INTO SAID OPPOSITELY LOCATED APERTURES FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID BAIL TO SAID FLANGE PORTIONS, SAID BAIL COMPRISING A PAIR OF SIDE PORTIONS AND A MIDPORTION CONNECTING SAID SIDE PORTIONS TOGETHER, SAID MIDPORTION HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY STRAIGHT PORTION PARALLEL TO A PLANE THROUGH SAID OPPOSITELY LOCATED APERTURES, SAID SIDE PORTIONS EXTENDING FROM SAID END PORTIONS IN A DIRECTION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE DOWNWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS FOR A DISTANCE SLIGHTLY GREATER THAN THE DISTANCE BETWEEN SAID APERTURES IN SAID FLANGES AND THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE PORTIONS, SAID SIDE PORTIONS BEYOND SAID PARALLEL PORTIONS BEING BENT IN AN INWARD DIRECTION OVERLYING SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID PAIL AND ALSO SLIGHTLY BENT OUT OF THE PLANE OF SAID PARALLEL PORTIONS IN ONE DIRECTION TO PERMIT SAID SIDE PORTIONS TO ENGAGE AND REST UPON SAID UPPER EDGE OF SAID PAIL BODY WHEN SAID BAIL IS LOWERED IN SAID ONE DIRECTION, SAID SIDE PORTIONS BEING OF SUCH A LENGTH THAT SAID MIDPORTION OF SAID BAIL IS SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY OUTWARDLY SPACED FROM THE UPPER EDGE OF SAID PAIL WHEN SAID BAIL IS LOWERED AS AFORESAID BY A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO PROVIDE A REST SPACED FROM SAID UPPER EDGE FOR SUPPORTING A BRUSH BY SAID MIDPORTION AND SAID UPPER EDGE. 